The Top 10 College Application Myths—Busted!

Think if you're a legacy you're automatically in? Or that early decision and early action are the same thing? Think again. Seventeen spoke to Lillian Luterman and Jennifer Bloom, authors of IN! College Admissions and Beyond, to get the real deets on college admissions.

Myth: When applying early, there’s no real difference between early action and early decision.

Myth: When applying early, there’s no real difference between early action and early decision.

Fact: Although early action and early decision have similar submission deadlines (November 1 or 15), the effect they have on your application is really different. Early decision is binding — if you’re accepted, you must attend. But, applying early decision gives you the biggest bump to your application — some say it’s equivalent to adding 100 points to your SAT score! But if you’ll need to compare financial aid packages, early action is your best bet. That way you’ll be able to consider what school is the best for your budget before making a final decision.

Myth: Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT) don’t really matter.

Myth: Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT) don’t really matter.

Fact: We wish this were true! Each school weighs standardized test scores differently. Large public and private universities weigh them most heavily — with so many applicants, they need a measuring stick that is consistent across the country. On the other end of the spectrum, many smaller liberal arts colleges don’t require SAT scores at all (you can find a complete list of these schools here.) Most schools fall somewhere in between — they look at all parts of your application including test scores, GPA, letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, and essays.